Slovak-Netherlands: Intensive cooperation in the EU Presidency Trio

Slovak-Netherlands: Intensive cooperation in the EU Presidency Trio

Bratislava (16 February) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák received Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Lilianne Ploumen in Bratislava today. The Netherlands currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Slovakia will replace it in this function as of 1 July.

In this regard, Minister Lajčák appreciated the cooperation with the Netherlands, with which, together with Malta, we form the Presidency Trio. “Our cooperation has already shown that we share similar positions on many issues. The cooperation within the Presidency of the Council of the European Union has been deepening this proximity even more,” stated Minister Lajčák.

"One of the main roles of the European Union at present is its overall stabilization – be it in the process of functioning or adopting decisions and reactions to the current challenges,” stated Minister Lajčák. He emphasized that Slovakia has always been part of European solutions, and it approaches all the issues the EU is currently dealing with in a similar fashion.

In the case of the migration crisis, they agreed on the need for reinforcing the external Schengen EU borders, as well as on further cooperation with Turkey and the countries most affected by the refugee crisis in the neighborhood of Syria, as well as the migration crisis along the so-called Balkan route.

As for the Western Balkans, Minister Lajčák pointed out that it’s also necessary to maintain the dynamics of the accession process with the EU as the European prospects motivate countries to adopt indispensable reforms and implement European standards.

They also discussed EU policy with respect to the Eastern Partnership and evaluated developments in several countries, especially Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. Minister Lajčák also pointed out that the reform process in Ukraine should continue, and the EU be more engaged in Belarus following the decision made by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday to cancel most existing sanctions and open a new chapter in relations with Belarus.

Miroslav Lajčák met with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Netherlands Lilianne Ploumen.